In a world of sample packs and recycled phrases, Tim Green stands out as a producer who does exactly that. Delivering his original and quirky take on mesmerising techno and lively house for the best part of a decade.
His studio skill has seen him trot the globe with his sound to 30 nations. Ahead of his appearance at The Winter Social next month in his home county Kent, Tim Green discusses his club discoveries around the world.
Tim’s recent schedule flaunts stops in California, Barcelona and Denmark. Next on the agenda is a gig in Kent for the winter edition of Nic Fanciulli's festival, taking place in Nic's hometown, Maidstone. For Tim, the daylong festival will be a homecoming, following a two-year hiatus playing in the county. “It's crazy how time goes and you don't realise how long it's been,” he admits when we discuss his return to Kent.
Growing up 25 miles away in a village near Ashford, Tim is no stranger to Maidstone, putting on a number of parties in venues in and around the area under the name Bedlam and later Disc Over. Booking impressive names like Dixon, The Martinez Brothers, Matthias Tanzmann and Apollonia.
For the time being Tim has decided to put party planning and label running on hold. “If you really want to make something successful you have to put all of your energy and focus into it,” he explains, adding being a producer and DJ is what he’s concentrating on.
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After another big year appearing on techno and house powerhouses from Cocoon to Get Physical, Tim began the year in a remote part of Scotland, finding solace in a place with no phone signal. Ticking off the first party on the 2017 calendar in Valencia, for Tim, it only takes one set to get back into the swing of travelling and touring.
Clocking up visits to clubs and festivals across each continent, Iceland and Japan come to mind when asked of his favourite countries. “I've had the most memorable gigs there and met some incredible people.” Playing Womb in Tokyo especially sticks out, “Japan know how to do it really well,” he says.
You can travel far and wide yet there’s still no place like home. Tim’s been based in London for a number of years, and names his number one club as Fabric. Describing the Farringdon haunt as a mothership, the sound, staff and Room 1 booth all contribute to its top spot. “I love it when you're on exactly the same level as everyone else. When you can't see past the first row of people,” he enthuses.
A decent soundsystem of course remains most crucial. “You can have a really grotty space that's not lit well, but if the sound is really good and it's really hitting in the chest and getting people to dance, that's first and foremost."
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Last year Tim made his debut at some of the biggest venues on the planet. First off playing for Cocoon’s residency at Amnesia in Ibiza, then at Berghain, an experience he calls one of the best of his life inside the Panorama Bar. "It was absolutely incredible and so much fun."
Now he’s secured some milestone gigs, still to tick off his club hit list is Robert Johnson in Frankfurt. Aware the venue is strict on its music policy, Tim is happy to be patient, “I wouldn't want to barge my way in." Tim approaches the first time playing anywhere as a learning curve to find out what the crowd wants. “It's different where you go, even city-to-city in Germany, or America. Different type of reactions, or the way people dance – or not dance.”
Recent visits to Propaganda in Moscow and Smolna in Warsaw have proved interesting. Russian club Propaganda operates as a restaurant by day, then clear the tables to turn it into a club. “It's amazing the transformation they do.” Whereas Polish nightspot Smolna blew him and Markus Fix away when they played a Cocoon event. “The people were so enthusiastic, as DJs we were allowed to play what we wanted and experiment a little. It was lovely."
Receiving heavy support from the imprint's chief Sven Väth, Tim has released on Cocoon since 2009 and is a member of their booking agency roster. After years of being asked by the label, Tim will release an album with them later this year. Currently finishing the last track when we speak, he says the album covers a broad range of styles. "I've really enjoyed producing this album, which I'm really happy with and excited to get out there."
Sven Vath will also play make the trip to Kent for the Winter Social and we couldn't resist asking where Tim would take Sven if he had the chance to give him a tour of the county. Taking it easy he’d take him on bike rides round his home village.
“It's really remote there and beautiful and I know he's into the health kick now. I'd take him to a really boring old lady's cafe where you get tea and scones, just so we're both completely out of our element.”
Tim Green plays The Winter Social on Saturday 11th March. Visit here for more info and tickets.
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